A.GIRL
We speak with western sydney based r&b artist A.Girl, about her new single and alter ego Lola, feminine power & pushing through discouragement as a young female artist
How does your work explore feminine power, and what intricate concepts within such do you touch upon? Why do you believe these are important to navigate, as both a means of self-expression and exclamation to the public?
I use my feminine power the most when I am in a studio full of men even if they are big name artists and I’m there making my music. It can be so daunting stepping into a room full of men and being the only female. But I turned that daunting feeling into strength and power and took it upon myself to not see it as a weakness, but as leverage.... Yes, I’m the only female here right now but I’m here because I deserve to be here, I’ve secured my spot in the room with the “big boys“. I imagine a lot of women from all walks of life can relate to this feeling, that they shouldn’t have to justify their presence among men; that skills are all that should matter.
Art serves as both a catharsis and a call-to-action. It’s a profound concept that something so deeply personal translated into a subjective art-form can resonate and expand social consciousness. How have you found your practice and/or identity to operate in subverting the patriarchy as a millennial woman? What have you found both unifying and invigorating as a purveyor of message?
Being a woman in this day and age is exciting. I personally find myself guiding and mentoring other young females who come to me looking for support so I uplift them in any way I can. The western Sydney music scene is really male dominated so when I get messages on my socials from young girls telling me that my music is inspiring it warms my heart so much. As much as I love listening to and supporting the boys’ music POV diversity across the gender spectrum is necessary in all art forms. It’s really important for a little girl to see more females in the industry because it inspires her to chase her dreams too. I hope that the small community of female artists in Sydney making our faces and stories known will lead to the next girl not having to struggle as hard as we did to develop her craft, gain respect, and kick it with the boys.
How did you migrate into becoming an artist? What is your earliest memory of creating, your inspiration and how this translates into your aesthetic today? What is it about your particular medium that is so gratifying for your psyche?
I’ve always had a love for music - it runs in my family and culture. It kind of always made perfect sense to me that later on I’d grow up and pursue music. My earliest memory of creating though was when I was in my family reggae band at about 10 years old. We created music in my uncle’s garage or wherever we could rehearse. To be honest, that time period in my life had shaped me so much with being the artist that I am today, that reggae band taught me how to overcome stage fright and be able to perform comfortably.
My personal space is very important to me. I spend a lot of time at home in my room. I have made it my safe and creative space. Each wall has a different theme - one wall is a chalkboard, one is of Dr. Seuss and my other wall is a mixture of my favourite movies, snacks and cartoon characters drawn by my friend. When I look around and see the creativity dripping from the walls it inspires me every day to create.
Can you tell us a little about your new single Lola & any upcoming projects you have?
Lola is an alter ego of mine. She works hard and hustles to get ahead. She is a boss and takes shit from no one, but behind every strong Lola is a vulnerable side and I show that side to Lola in the music video. Sometimes her deep fear of death rises up close to the surface.
Upcoming projects are on the hush for now but things are very exciting!
Can you recall an instance where you felt discouraged to the point of giving up? What was your thought process, what was the instance and what made you believe this? In return, what were the influences that transformed your approach to one of perseverance?
Yes, I’ve felt discouraged plenty of times. It comes with music all the time. As the artist, you have self-doubt all the time and people are always taking pot shots. The more your profile increases the louder the naysayers become. I’ve learned that the more people initiate hate towards you, the more fearful they are of what you’re doing. They are paying attention for a reason and it ain’t coz they don’t care!
I used to be so focused on what everyone else was doing. After my uncle passed away in 2015, life got to me and I was very fragile. I was asking myself “why am I doing music if I haven’t made it already!?” His death put me in a depression – I over thought things. Grieving and mourning him really got me down. I would compare myself to others and ask myself why haven’t I achieved this or that – I’d think maybe I’m not good enough. Then I woke up and grew in confidence. I found who I was as a person which is when I knew what I needed to do as an artist.
My family has been the biggest influence on this journey. They knew how much my uncle meant to me. They helped me reconnect with music. I started searching the internet for a new sound to match my emotions. Music really helped me get through that dark period.
Resilience is a word strongly concurrent with feminism. What does resilience mean to you in your personal life, mental health, artistic practice and role in society? In your opinion, how does one practice resilience and what are the most vital pressures to stand up to?
In my song Lola, I sing the lyric “I don’t like it when you tell me I can’t, just because of what’s between my knees”. This is my feminist stance.
I am lucky that I am thick skinned and resilient because otherwise I would have listened to all those voices in our society. It’s a habit of mine now that I make lemonade out of lemons!
Most vital pressures to stand up to?.... I’m always fighting my inner voice with positive self-talk. My inner voice is my #1 hater - always telling myself maybe I can’t do this? Maybe I’m not good enough?...I have to keep quieting that voice. I’m constantly looking to improve my self-talk, nobody is going to talk me down!
I was told that I:
Can’t rap
Can’t dress gangster and be a pretty girl at the same time
Can’t swear
Can’t perform at Hip Hop events if you’re an R&B artist
Can’t come into a room because the boys are in there.
Should come into a room because the boys are in there.
I won’t make it in life/music.
Can’t rep my area because I’m a girl.
To be honest, all those words are just fuel to my fire!
Aside from the aesthetic & sound, what makes an artwork compelling, as both a creator and a listener?
For me, it’s all about my lyrics. I love storytelling and I try to always speak my truth. I feel like audiences connect with music on an emotional level when its coming from an authentic place. The highs, the lows - I just be real.
An audience can smell it when you’re faking it. When you open up and let your audience into your deepest thoughts that’s when they are compelled to keep listening. As a creator, if I’m not telling my truth, what’s the point!? I want people to learn, be inspired and feel like they know me a bit better every time they listen to my tracks.
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